Generate Tasks

Skill: Generate Task List from PRD

Overview

Guide AI in creating detailed, step-by-step task list in Markdown format based on existing PRD. The task list should guide a developer through implementation with built-in quality checkpoints.

Use When: PRD created, ready to plan implementation 4D Phase: Develop (planning implementation steps)

Prerequisites

✅ Before using this skill:

• PRD exists in .claude/tasks/NNNN-prd-feature-name.md
• PRD reviewed and approved by user
• CLAUDE.md exists (or will be created during this process)
• Current codebase reviewed for context

Process Overview

Two-Phase Approach

Phase 1: Generate parent tasks → Present to user → Wait for "Go" Phase 2: Generate detailed sub-tasks → Save file → Inform user

This ensures high-level plan approved before diving into details.

Phase 1: Analysis & High-Level Planning

Step 1: Receive PRD Reference

User points AI to specific PRD file.

Example:

"Generate tasks for @.claude/tasks/0001-prd-user-authentication.md using @.claude/skills/generate-tasks/SKILL.md"

Step 2: Read PRD

AI reads and analyzes:

• Functional requirements
• User stories
• Technical considerations
• Guardrails affected
• Success metrics

Step 3: Assess Current State

CRITICAL: Review existing codebase before planning.

AI must:

1. Check CLAUDE.md for:

   • Tech stack and framework choices
   • Existing architecture patterns
   • Testing framework and conventions
   • Deployment configuration

2. Scan codebase for:

   • Existing directory structure
   • Similar features (auth, API routes, etc.)
   • Naming conventions
   • Test file patterns
   • Component organization

3. Identify reusable components:

   • Existing utilities that can be leveraged
   • UI components from design system
   • Database connection patterns
   • Error handling patterns
   • Validation utilities

4. Check guardrails compliance:

   • Current file lengths (don't add to files approaching limits)
   • Existing test coverage patterns
   • Security patterns in use
   • Performance considerations

Output: Brief summary for user review before generating tasks.

Example:

## Current State Assessment

**Existing Infrastructure:**
- Express.js backend with TypeScript
- Prisma ORM with PostgreSQL
- Jest for testing (78% coverage currently)
- React frontend with Tailwind CSS

**Reusable Components:**
- `lib/validation.ts` - Input validation utilities (use Zod)
- `components/Form.tsx` - Form component (reuse for auth forms)
- `lib/errors.ts` - Centralized error handling (extend for auth errors)

**Patterns to Follow:**
- API routes in `src/api/<feature>/` structure
- Tests alongside code (`*.test.ts`)
- Repository pattern for data access
- Environment variables via `.env` with fallbacks

**Guardrails Note:**
- `src/api/user/user.controller.ts` is 285 lines (near 300 limit - don't modify)
- Create new auth module instead of extending user module

Step 4: Generate Parent Tasks

Based on PRD and current state, create high-level tasks.

Guidelines:

• Typically 4-7 parent tasks
• Each parent = logical phase of implementation
• Order by dependency (database → backend → frontend → tests)
• Include setup, implementation, testing, documentation

Save to: .claude/tasks/tasks-NNNN-prd-feature-name.md

Present to user in this format:

## High-Level Tasks

- [ ] 1.0 Database Schema & Migrations
- [ ] 2.0 Backend Authentication Service
- [ ] 3.0 API Routes & Middleware
- [ ] 4.0 Frontend Auth Components
- [ ] 5.0 OAuth Integration
- [ ] 6.0 Testing & Validation
- [ ] 7.0 Documentation & Deployment

**Relevant Files** (identified):
- `src/db/schemas/user.schema.ts` - Create
- `src/auth/auth.service.ts` - Create
- `src/api/auth/auth.controller.ts` - Create
... (full list in task file)

Then inform user:

"High-level tasks generated. Review the task structure above.
Ready to generate detailed sub-tasks? Respond with 'Go' to proceed."

Step 5: Wait for User Confirmation

PAUSE - Do not proceed until user responds with "Go" or equivalent.

This checkpoint ensures high-level plan aligns with expectations before diving into details.

Phase 2: Detailed Task Breakdown

Step 6: Generate Sub-Tasks

Once user confirms "Go", break down each parent task into actionable sub-tasks.

Sub-task Guidelines:

1. Granularity: Each sub-task = 30-60 min of work (3,000-6,000 tokens)
2. Atomicity: Complete in one session, one commit
3. Testability: Each sub-task includes verification step
4. Dependency: Clear which sub-tasks depend on others
5. Guardrails: Each task validates against relevant guardrails

Sub-task Naming Convention:

• Use present tense verbs: "Create", "Implement", "Add", "Update", "Test"
• Be specific: "Create user schema" not "Setup database"
• Include success criterion: "Create user schema (with email, password_hash, created_at fields)"

Example Parent → Sub-tasks:

- [ ] 1.0 Database Schema & Migrations
  - [ ] 1.1 Create user schema with Prisma (email, password_hash, oauth_provider, created_at, updated_at)
  - [ ] 1.2 Create session schema with Prisma (user_id FK, token, expires_at, created_at)
  - [ ] 1.3 Generate and run Prisma migration for user and session tables
  - [ ] 1.4 Verify schema in PostgreSQL (check indexes, constraints)
  - [ ] 1.5 Update .env.example with DATABASE_URL placeholder

Step 7: Add Guardrail Validation Per Task

For each sub-task, identify which guardrails must be validated.

Format: Add guardrail checklist as comment under relevant tasks.

Example:

- [ ] 2.3 Implement password hashing service (bcrypt, cost factor 12)
  <!-- Guardrails:
    ✓ All environment variables have secure defaults (BCRYPT_ROUNDS=12)
    ✓ All exported functions have type signatures and JSDoc
    ✓ Function ≤50 lines (hash, verify, validate strength as separate functions)
    ✓ Edge cases tested (null, empty, too short, invalid chars)
  -->

Step 8: Add Complexity Estimates

For each sub-task, estimate complexity in tokens (not time).

Complexity Levels:

• Simple: <2,000 tokens (single function, straightforward logic)
• Medium: 2,000-5,000 tokens (multiple functions, some complexity)
• Complex: 5,000-10,000 tokens (multiple files, integration, edge cases)

Example:

- [ ] 2.3 Implement password hashing service [~3,000 tokens - Medium]

Step 9: Identify Relevant Files

List all files that will be created or modified, including tests.

Format: See references/process.md for detailed file listing format.

Step 10: Add Implementation Notes

Provide guidance for each task section.

Include:

• Testing requirements specific to this feature
• Performance considerations
• Security reminders
• Integration points
• Common pitfalls to avoid

Example:

## Implementation Notes

### Testing Requirements
- All auth logic must have >95% coverage (business-critical)
- Test files alongside code (e.g., `auth.service.ts` + `auth.service.test.ts`)
- Use `npm test src/auth` to run auth module tests only
- Integration tests must test actual JWT validation, not mocks

### Security Checklist (verify before each commit)
- [ ] All passwords hashed (never store plain text)
- [ ] All JWT secrets from environment variables
- [ ] All inputs validated with Zod schemas
- [ ] All SQL queries parameterized (use Prisma)
- [ ] Rate limiting on login/register endpoints
- [ ] Authentication events logged

### Performance Targets
- Login/register: <200ms (p95)
- JWT validation: <50ms (p95)
- Password hashing: 100-300ms (bcrypt cost 12)

### Common Pitfalls
- ❌ Don't validate JWT in database query (use middleware)
- ❌ Don't store tokens in localStorage (use httpOnly cookies)
- ❌ Don't return sensitive data in error messages
- ❌ Don't skip rate limiting (prevents brute force)

Step 11: Generate Final Output

Combine all sections into final task list structure.

See references/process.md for complete output format template.

Output Location

File: .claude/tasks/tasks-NNNN-prd-feature-name.md Format: Markdown Naming: Match PRD filename (e.g., PRD is 0001-prd-user-auth.md → tasks are tasks-0001-prd-user-auth.md)

Implementation Workflow

During Implementation

User will say: "Start on task 1.1" or "Continue with next task"

AI should:

1. Implement the specific sub-task
2. Write tests alongside code
3. Validate against guardrails in task comment
4. Run tests
5. Verify success criteria
6. Commit with message: feat(auth): task 1.1 - create user schema
7. Mark task complete in task list file
8. Ask: "Task 1.1 complete. Review changes? Or continue with 1.2?"

Guardrails Integration

For each sub-task, identify which of CLAUDE.md's 30+ guardrails apply.

Common guardrails per task type:

Database Schema Tasks

• ✓ All environment variables have secure defaults
• ✓ Parameterized queries (Prisma enforces this)

Service/Logic Tasks

• ✓ No function exceeds 50 lines
• ✓ Cyclomatic complexity ≤10 per function
• ✓ All exported functions have type signatures and JSDoc
• ✓ All user inputs validated before processing

API/Route Tasks

• ✓ All API boundaries have input validation (Zod schemas)
• ✓ All async operations have timeout/cancellation
• ✓ API responses <200ms for simple queries

Test Tasks

• ✓ Coverage targets: >95% for auth (business-critical)
• ✓ All public APIs have unit tests
• ✓ Edge cases tested (null, empty, boundary values)
• ✓ No test interdependencies

Security Tasks (Auth-related)

• ✓ All user inputs validated before processing
• ✓ All database queries parameterized
• ✓ All environment variables have secure defaults
• ✓ Dependencies checked for vulnerabilities

Final Instructions

For AI Assistant:

Phase 1 (High-Level):

1. ✅ Read PRD thoroughly
2. ✅ Assess current codebase (scan for existing patterns)
3. ✅ Generate 4-7 parent tasks
4. ✅ Identify all relevant files
5. ✅ Present to user
6. ❌ WAIT for "Go" before Phase 2

Phase 2 (Detailed):

1. ✅ Break each parent into 3-8 sub-tasks
2. ✅ Add guardrail validation per task
3. ✅ Add complexity estimates
4. ✅ Add implementation notes
5. ✅ Save task list file
6. ✅ Inform user: "Task list ready at [path]. Ready to start task 1.1?"

During Implementation:

1. ✅ Implement one sub-task at a time
2. ✅ Validate guardrails for that specific task
3. ✅ Write tests alongside code
4. ✅ Commit after each task (atomic commits)
5. ✅ Update task list (mark completed)
6. ✅ Ask user to review before continuing

Target Audience

Primary: Junior developer with AI assistance Assumption: Developer knows fundamentals but needs clear guidance on:

• Where to create files
• What patterns to follow
• Which guardrails to validate
• How to test properly

References

See references/process.md for:

• Complete output format template
• Detailed file listing examples
• Extended implementation notes
• Full task breakdown examples

Remember: Good task breakdown = clear roadmap. Each sub-task should be:

• Atomic: Complete in one session
• Testable: Has clear success criterion
• Guarded: Validates specific guardrails
• Estimated: Complexity known upfront
• Dependent: Dependencies clear (order matters)

Autonomous Execution (Optional)

If the project uses autonomous AI coding loops (Ralph Wiggum methodology), the generated task list can be converted to machine-readable format for unattended execution.

After generating the markdown task list:

samuel auto init --prd .claude/tasks/NNNN-prd-feature.md

This converts the PRD and task list into .claude/auto/prd.json and generates the loop orchestration files. See .claude/skills/auto/SKILL.md for the full autonomous workflow.